Yamal Peninsula Research Articles

Dynamics of the number of subarctic mycobiota of the Yamal peninsula under climate change.

Dynamics of the number of subarctic mycobiota of the Yamal peninsula under climate change.

CAULDRONS IN THE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF THE OB UGRIANS AND SAMOYEDS: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACT AND ‘LIVING’ TRADITION

The first part of the article published in this journal considers the archaeological context along with the func-tional, morphological and social aspects associated with cauldrons in the cultural traditions of the Ob Ugrians and Samoyeds of North-Western Siberia. In this work, the authors analyse field ethnographic materials collected from the Khanty (Synya, Voykar, Sob, Kunovat, Polui, Ob, Salym, Yugan, Pim, Tromyogan, Agan, Vakh, Polar Urals), Mansi (Northern Sosva, Lyapin and Lozva Rivers) and Nenets (Yamal Peninsula, Pur and Agan Rivers) in 1980–2018. The study of cauldrons in a ‘living’ culture along with analysing them as an archaeological artefact has greatly expanded the chronological range of the research from the 1st–4th centuries AD to the present time. The archaeological and ethnographic research is based on a structural and semiotic approach. A cauldron, as an ele-ment of material and spiritual culture, associated with the methods for obtaining and preserving energy, is directly related to the experience of using natural resources and to the development of life sustenance models for the Northern communities. Numerous archaeological discoveries of intact cauldrons, as well as their fragments and items made from their fragments in North-Western Siberia, indicate the archaism and the continued use of caul-drons as vessels for storage and cooking; fashionable, prestigious, high-status items; a receptacle for the soul; a divine attribute and a talisman, etc. It is not surprising that the cauldron, whose direct purpose consists in storage and preparation of food, is incredibly versatile in Ob-Ugric and Samoyedic cultures. The cauldron appears in the surviving toponyms and legends of the Nenets, Khanty and Mansi. It acts as a measure of volume and time. Cauldrons possess features and properties of a living organism; they contain the energy of fire and stone-iron. The ability of cauldrons to change their condition and position (full/empty, boiling/not boiling, upside-down/right-side-up) is manifested in their diverse duality making them mediators in the following juxtapositions: peace —enmity, familiar — alien, kinship — property, birth — death, wealth — poverty, happiness— trouble. А cauldron is a symbol of family unity, the source of the power for birth-recovery, as well as an attribute of shamanic rites and a border between the worlds. The high mythical and ritual status of the cauldron is emphasised by its celestial ori-gin.

Humic Acids Isolated from Selected Soils from the Russian Arctic and Antarctic: Characterization by Two-Dimensional 1H-13C HETCOR and 13C CP/Mas NMR Spectroscopy

Here we describe the molecular composition and resistance to decomposition of humic acids isolated from selected soils of the Russian Arctic and Antarctic. The degree of soil organic matter stabilization was assessed using modern instrumental methods: nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (cross peak magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) 13C-NMR and 1H-13C heteronuclear-correlation (HETCOR)). Analysis of the humic acids showed that aromatic compounds prevail in the organic matter formed in cryoconites, located on the surfaces of the glaciers. The predominance of aliphatic fragments is revealed in the soils of the Yamal peninsula and Antarctica. This could be caused by sedimentation of fresh organic matter exhibiting low decomposition stage due to the severe climate and processes of hydrogenation in the humic acids, destruction of the C-C bonds, and formation of chains with high hydrogen content. These processes result in formation of aliphatic fragments in the humic acids.

The Potential of Gully Erosion on the Yamal Peninsula, West Siberia

The Yamal Peninsula occupies the northern part of the West Siberian Plain in Russia. This territory has rapidly developed due to the exploitation of several gas fields. At the same time, the Yamal Peninsula is one of the most severely gullied landscapes in the Arctic. The potential risk of damage to the environment or structures and the cost of such damages are very high there. The erosion potential is the cumulative erosion by runoff above critical, calculated for each point at a catchment. Calculations take into account the geomorphic, lithological, and vegetation cover thresholds, realized in the form of critical runoff depth of erosion initiation. It also takes into account action of all flows between the critical and maximum runoff. The calculations for several gullied catchments on the Yamal Peninsula show the uneven distribution of erosion potential level with the maximum of gully erosion on the steep banks of the river valleys and on gully heads with bare soil. The area with potential erosion in these catchments varies within the range of 17–33%. The erosion on the Yamal Peninsula is mainly of natural origin. It occurs on steep slopes and at the heads of gullies. These landforms are not used for exploitation camps and settlements. Nevertheless, the linear structures, such as railways, roads and pipelines, can cross these unstable landforms with the risk of damage. Erosion potential increases at the spots with bare soil, which appear due to both construction work and natural processes, such as slumping.

Features of changes in the chemical composition of cryopegs of the Yamal Peninsula during cryogenic concentration

The analysis of the content of ions in cryopeg different mineralization of the Yamal Peninsula. The regularities of changes in the chemical composition of cryopeg waters in the process of cryogenic metamorphism are revealed The ratios of the macro-components of the chemical composition of cryopegs allow us to conclude that the genesis of the initial solutions was different: marine and infiltration.

Дегазация Земли в Арктике: комплексные исследования распространения бугров пучения и термокарстовых озер с кратерами выбросов газа на полуострове Ямал

Дегазация Земли в Арктике: комплексные исследования распространения бугров пучения и термокарстовых озер с кратерами выбросов газа на полуострове Ямал

Barremian–Aptian Assemblages of Microfauna and Palynomorphs from the North-West of the Yamal Peninsula (Biostratigraphy and Palaeofacies)

The composition of Barremian–Aptian assemblages of microfauna and palynomorphs from the north-west of the Yamal Peninsula allows to reveal local zones, which are well correlated to those in some regions of Europe, Canada and Siberia. Microfossils data also provide the information on the paleofacies and climatic conditions.

Deep and extensive meltwater system beneath the former Eurasian Ice Sheet in the Kara Sea

Abstract The Eurasian ice sheet extended across the Barents and Kara Seas during the late Quaternary, yet evidence on past ice dynamics and thermal structure across its huge eastern periphery remains largely unknown. Here we use three-dimensional seismic data sets covering ∼4500 km2 of the Kara Sea west of Yamal Peninsula, Siberia (71°–73°N), to identify, for the first time in the Russian Arctic seas, several buried generations of vast subglacial tunnel valley networks. Individual valleys are up to 50 km long and are incised as much as 400 m deep; among the largest tunnel valleys ever reported. This discovery represents the first documentation of an extensively warm-based eastern margin of the Eurasian ice sheet during the Quaternary glaciations. The presence of major subglacial channel networks on the shallow shelf, with no evidence of ice streaming, suggests that significant meltwater discharge and subsequent freshwater forcing of ocean circulation may be long-lived rather than catastrophic, occurring during the latest stages of deglaciation in areas where the ice sheet flows slowly and is grounded largely above sea level. Furthermore, the first account of an extensive hydrological network across large areas of the Kara Sea provides important empirical evidence for active subglacial hydrological processes that should be considered in future numerical modeling of the eastern margin of the Quaternary Eurasian ice sheet.

Approaches to increasing well productivity in the development of the Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field

A large number of gas and gas condensate fields are located in the West Siberian mega-province and, to increase gas and gas condensate production levels, deposits located on the Yamal Peninsula should be introduced into development. Deposits of the Yamal Peninsula are complex-built deposits, Neocomian and Jurassic deposits have abnormally high reservoir pressure with a reservoir temperature of more than 100 ° C. The Bovanenkovo oil and gas condensate field is the largest in terms of gas reserves in the Yamal Peninsula; on this example, in this article we will study the issues of restoring the reservoir properties of reservoir rocks and increasing the flow of hydrocarbons. To select the optimal technology and composition for conducting water shutoff treatment, it is necessary to take into account the following factors: which reservoirs represent the reservoir, the percentage of water cut in the recoverable reserves, the tightness of the production string, the current flow rate of the well during operation at constant reservoir pressure, because each field needs an individual approach with a choice suitable water shuto-ff treatment technology.

Combining data from different sampling methods to study the development of an alien crabChionoecetes opilioinvasion in the remote and pristine Arctic Kara Sea

Data obtained using three different types of sampling gear is compared and combined to assess the size composition and density of a non-indigenous snow crab population Chionoecetes opilio in the previously free of alien species Kara Sea benthos. The Sigsbee trawl has small mesh and catches even recently settled crabs. The large bottom trawl is able to catch large crabs, but does not retain younger crabs, due to its large mesh. Video sampling allows the observation of larger crabs, although some smaller crabs can also be spotted. The combined use of such gear could provide full scope data of the existing size groups in a population. The density of the crabs was calculated from the video footage. The highest figures were in Blagopoluchiya Bay at 0.87 crabs/m2, where the settlement seems to be reaching its first peak of population growth after the introduction. High density in the Kara Gates Strait at 0.55 crabs/m2, could be due to the close proximity of the Barents Sea from where the crabs can enter by both larval dispersal and active adult migration. All size groups have been present in most sampled areas, which suggest successful settlement and growth of crabs over a number of years. Again, this was not the case in Blagopoluchiya Bay with high density of small crabs (<30 mm CW), which confirms its recent population growth. Male to female ratio was strikingly different between the bays of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago and west of the Yamal Peninsula (0.8 and 3.8 respectively). Seventy five ovigerous females were caught in 2016, which confirms the presence of a reproducing population in the Kara Sea. The spatial structure of the snow crab population in the Kara Sea is still in the process of formation. The presented data indicates that this process may lead to a complex system, which is based on local recruitment and transport of larvae from the Barents Sea and across the western Kara shelf; formation of nursery grounds; active migration of adults and their concentration in the areas of the shelf with appropriate feeding conditions.

Stability of relic methane hydrates under climatic changes in the Holocene

The results of numerical modeling of the thermal regime of high-latitude permafrost regions of Western Siberia (the Yamal Peninsula) for the last 6 thousand years are presented. Thermobaric conditions for stability and dissociation of continental methane hydrates are defined. It is shown that at the present time relict methane hydrates can exist at depths of up to 150 m in the strata of frozen soil of Yamal above the modern boundary of the stability zone, having “survived” warming in the Mid-Holocene warm period (about 6,000-5,000 years ago) at negative temperatures in the permafrost. According to the results obtained, the current warming in Yamal region exceeds the warming of the Mid-Holocene. The increase of the temperature of the permafrost layer can reduce the strength of the soil and lead to dissociation of the near-surface gas hydrates.

Gabbroids of Pre-Jurassic Basement of Arctic and Their Sulfide Mineralization (Syunay-Salin Area, Yamal Peninsula)

The chemical and mineral composition of gabbroids of the pre-Jurassic basement of the Syunay-Salin area located in the Arctic part of the West Siberian megabasin on Yamal Peninsula is studied. Borehole 45 has drilled a layered gabbrodiorite intrusion, which was previously considered monotonic diorite one. The gabbroids are metamorphosed under conditions of the lower degree of the greenschist facies of metamorphism and also underwent propylitization, which is resulted in the formation of sulfdes including pyrite, chalcopyrite, also pyrrhotite, pentlandite, cubanite, samaniite and galena. According to mineral geothermometers, sulfde dissemination in Syunay-Salin gabbroids formed at temperature of ~200 °С.

Flora of Bacillariophyta in the Plankton of Tundra Ecosystems in the Exploration Area of the Gas Condensate Field (Yamal Peninsula)

This scanning electron microscopy study of phytoplankton from the watercourses and water bodies of the Mordyyakha River basin (Yamal Peninsula) has made it possible to expand the taxonomic spectrum of Bacillariophyta: a total of 281 taxa of specific and intraspecific ranks of diatom algae of 63 genera have been identified. Among them, 14 species and varieties are new for the flora of Russia and 30 forms of the 14 genera have been identified only to the genus level. The highest taxonomic diversity is recorded in Lake Pebtavyto (116) and the channel between two lakes (125). Diatoma tenuis, Encyonema silesiacum, Fragilaria vaucheriae, Tabellaria flocculosa, and Ulnaria ulna are the most widespread in the studied water bodies.

Heat flow and presence of oil and gas (the Yamal peninsula, Tomsk region)

The possibilities of Geothermy as a geophysical method are studied to solve forecast and prospecting problems of Petroleum Geology of the Arctic regions and the Paleozoic of Western Siberia. Deep heat flow of Yamal fields, whose oil and gas potential is associated with the Jurassic-Cretaceous formations, and the fields of Tomsk Region, whose geological section contents deposits in the Paleozoic, is studied. The method of paleotemperature modeling was used to calculate the heat flow density from the base of a sedimentary section (by solving the inverse problem of Geothermy). The schematization and mapping of the heat flow were performed, taking into account experimental determinations of the parameter. Besides, the correlation of heat flow features with the localization of deposits was revealed. The conceptual and factual basis of research includes the tectonosedimentary history of sedimentary cover, the Mesozoic-Cenozoic climatic temperature course and the history of cryogenic processes, as well as lithologic and stratigraphic description of the section, results of well testing, thermometry and vitrinite reflectivity data of 20 deep wells of Yamal and 37 wells of Ostanino group of fields of Tomsk region. It was stated that 80 % of known Yamal deposits correlate with anomalous features of the heat flow. Bovanenkovskoe and Arkticheskoe fields are located in positive anomaly zones. 75 % of fields of Ostanino group relate to anomalous features of the heat flow. It is shown that the fields, which are characterized by existence of commercial deposits in the Paleozoic, are associated with the bright gradient zone of the heat flow. The forecast of commercial inflows in the Paleozoic for Pindzhinskoe, Mirnoe and Rybalnoe fields is given. The correlation between the intensity of naftidogenesis and the lateral inhomogeneity of the deep heat flow is characterized as a probable fundamental pattern for Western Siberia.

Пространственные модели, разрабатываемые с применением лазерного сканирования на газоконденсатных месторождениях северной строительно-климатической зоны

Wide exploration and industrial exploitation of hydrocarbon fields in Yamal Peninsula pose in front of construction and mining companies critical problems of efficient construction at constantly evolving fields taking into account climatic and geocryological conditions of their location. Yamal Peninsula is characterized by unstable soils, the mobility of which has a substantial impact on the changes in spatial arrangement of field facilities, not only in the direct process of construction, but also during their scale-up and equipment overhaul. The paper examines implementation of 3D spatial arrangement modelling of industrial facilities into the process of construction and installation works at hydrocarbon fields in the northern construction-climatic zone. The purpose of implementing this method combined with 3D spatial modelling of equipment connections lies in reliability and safety enhancement of the facilities throughout their entire lifespan. Authors analyze statement and solution of the problem associated with alignment and installation of prefabricated equipment and pipelines, taking into account advanced technologies of 3D design and modelling. The study examines a 3D spatial model with the elements of equipment connection geometry; the model is related to existing production facilities at the field. Authors perform an analysis and in mathematical terms formulate the problem of optimal spatial arrangement for such models. The paper focuses on typical deviations, occurring in the installation process of constructions and connection facilities, their spatial arrangement is modelled. Possible solutions are offered, as well as an algorithm of their implementation at an operating field.

Seasonal Progression of Ground Displacement Identified with Satellite Radar Interferometry and the Impact of Unusually Warm Conditions on Permafrost at the Yamal Peninsula in 2016

Ground subsidence monitoring by Synthetic Aperture Radar interferometry (InSAR) over Arctic permafrost areas is largely limited by long revisit intervals, which can lead to signal decorrelation. Recent satellite missions such as COSMO-Skymed (X-band) and Sentinel-1 (C-band) have comparably short time intervals of a few days. We analyze dense records of COSMO-Skymed from 2013 and 2016 and of Sentinel-1 from 2016, 2017, and 2018 for the unfrozen period over central Yamal (Russia). These years were distinct in environmental conditions and 2016 in particular was unusually warm. We evaluate the InSAR-derived displacement with in situ subsidence records, active-layer thickness measurements, borehole temperature records, meteorological data, C-band scatterometer records, and a land-cover classification based on Sentinel-1 and -2 data. Our results indicate that a comparison of seasonal thaw evolution between years is feasible after accounting for the early thaw data gap in InSAR time series (as a result of snow cover) through an assessment with respect to degree-days of thawing. Average rates of subsidence agree between in situ and Sentinel-1 (corrected for viewing geometry), with 3.9 mm and 4.3 mm per 100 degree-days of thaw at the test site. X-band and C-band records agree well with each other, including seasonal evolution of subsidence. The average displacement is more than twice in magnitude at the active-layer monitoring test site in 2016 compared to the other years. We further demonstrate that InSAR displacement can not only provide information on the magnitude of ground thaw but also on soil properties through analyses of seasonal evolution in extreme years.

Off-the-Grid Life of Arctic Nomads: Social Generating of Electricity in the Northern Yamal

This article deals with the ethnographic analysis of the history and social life of electricity among Nenets in the Yamal Peninsula. Based on historical documents and field data the author reconstructs a history of the electrification of the northern part of the peninsula. This work also includes the reflections on social and cultural meanings of electricity among Nenets in and out the tundra. Through these historical and current dynamics, the author suggests analysing the life of electricity in off-the-grid settings through the lens of transnational technological entanglements in the Arctic

Coastal retreat at Kharasaveyskoye gas and condensate field area, Kara Sea, Russia since 1970s

Changes in coastal retreat rates, both spatial and temporal, are considered at the area of Kharasaveyskoye gas and condensate field for the period before the exploration till now. In the study area, the presence of permafrost makes the erosional coasts vulnerable to rising temperatures. The increase in air temperatures contributes to the thawing of coastal sediments and their accelerated destruction. And a decrease in sea ice area potentially increases the wave fetch. The rapidly changing climate of the Arctic should influence the processes of destruction of frozen coasts. At West Yamal Peninsula near Cape Kharasavey the average coastal retreat rate is 1.1 m per year (1977-2016) for 7 km of coastline. Based on the analysis of multi-temporal aerial and space images, it has been established that the maximum retreat rates are typical of coastal segments composed of icy sediments. As for temporal variability, the maximum rate of destruction was observed in 1977-1988 (up to 6.5 m per year) immediately after the beginning of economic development of the territory. In this key site, human impact affects the rate of coastal destruction more than variations in hydrometeorological parameters.

Developing Gas Fields in the Yamal Peninsula as a Factor of Economic Development of the Arctic Zone of Russia

Currently, one of the main gas-producing regions in Russia is the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district. Obviously, the efficiency of hydrocarbon fields development will affect the rate of the social-economic development of the entire region. In this article, we point out that surveying the detected gas deposits in the territory of the Yamal peninsula, as well as detailed field appraisal of those fields that have been discovered already can be important stages in developing the hydrocarbon potential of this region. We also point out that, during the detailed survey of a deposit field in the Tambey suite, a unique gas deposit was discovered. As one of the most important strategic directions in developing the resource base of the Yamal peninsula, there is an integrated investment project “Yamal-LNG”, which implies production of natural gas in the South-Tambey field, with subsequent liquefying and transporting to the consumers. In this article, we characterize the production capacity of the plant for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as logistic schemes to deliver LNG to the consumers. We point out that transporting LNG via the Northern sea rout has a number of sufficient advantages. Due to presence of some unique deposits of natural gas in the territory of the Yamal peninsula, we investigate the issue of plausibility of creating high-tech manufacturing plants in this region. We characterize special features of the technological complex currently under construction in the territory of the district. We mark that the level of development of the gas-producing and gas-processing plants directly depends on the positioning of the transport network for delivering hydrocarbons and cargo to world markets. We point out that large infrastructural objects we created for transporting products and cargo in the Yamal peninsula – such as the multifunctional year-round sea port Sabetta, the international airport Sabetta; also, a new transport project “The Northern Latitudinal Railway” is now being designed; it implies constructing some railway infrastructure. We make a conclusion about the significance of the project “Yamal-LNG” for economic development of not only the Yamal peninsula but also of the entire Arctic zone of Russia.

Alterations of summer ice conditions within eastern part of the Northern Sea Throughway

The article is considered methodology and results of computer processing of vector ice maps of the AARI archive for the period 1997-2018. The charts were produced by processing of Earth’s remote sensing data. There were analyzed inter-annual variability of navigation conditions along two routes between the Sabetta Port (the Yamal Peninsula, Russia) and the Bering Strait during September that is annual period of the most light ice conditions. As the results of the processing there were obtained long-standing series of total lengths of the routes legs within free water, within close floating ice with concentration more than six tenths, and such integrated ice index as conditional lengths of the routes within compact floating ice with 10 tenths concentration. The series belong ten-days periods (decades) during September. The series were tested for the existence of trends by the method of integral curves, and then were examined for heterogeneity using Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Siegel-Tukey rank non-parametric criteria. We received the following results: the total lengths of the routes legs within free water increased for the period of 1997-2018 years, ones within close floating ice and conditional lengths of the routes within compact floating ice decreased. There is some improvement of the ice conditions.